Poet, activist Amer Ahmed to address Islamophobia on Tuesday

Apr 26, 2011From staff reports

Amer Ahmed, a prominent spoken word poet, Hip Hop Activist and college administrator, will present, "Islam: Beyond the Myths, Breaking Down the Barriers," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, in Baker University Center Ballroom.

Ahmed will use his multimedia presentation to address questions about Islam and its existence in the current climate of prejudice and bigotry toward it in the United States.

The session will draw from current events from Islam in the post 9/11 era and will provide talking points for clearing up basic misconceptions about Islam and Muslims and the socio-political implications of American xenophobia.

Ahmed was born in Springfield, Ohio, to Indian-Muslim immigrants. He earned a master's degree in anthropology and Afro-American and African Diaspora Studies from Indiana University.

Following his graduate studies, Ahmed served as director of intercultural programs at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and later at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn.

He served as an associate instructor and public relations officer for the Muslim Student Union during 9/11 and helped open up important discussion and dialogue regarding Islam in a post-9/11 context, both in the U.S. and the world.

He serves as co-chair of the board of directors for the Hip Hop Congress and is an associate director in the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs at the University of Michigan.